Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

Not to mention using oneself as the core of the furnace—

That's absolutely impossible.

He wanted to challenge God's domain and become the Creator, not just a mere created being.

Regarding the issue of the Golem Core, Avisbro had an alternative.

If the magician or someone with excellent magic circuits is skilled, this puppet will come to life.

But sacred things tainted with unclean sins are equally intolerable.

Just as Avisbro was facing a difficult choice, he unexpectedly heard a miraculous voice from heaven and mustered his courage to make a plea.

Now, the true Creator is right before our eyes.

Samael remained unmoved by the fervent scholars and their yearning for truth.

“I remember you are a servant of the Yggdrasil clan.”

"I swear on my life that I will be loyal to you from this day forward!"

Upon hearing this, Avisbro knelt down on one knee without hesitation, used a forced spell to establish a contract, and surrendered to the creator before him.

"Very good, as you wish."

Hearing the expected answer, Samael nodded with pleasure, a smile playing on his lips. He reached out and grabbed a broken gem covered in cracks and shimmering runes from the void, tossing it to the other side.

That was a fragment of the divine essence of the Titan Antaeus, which he won from a bet with Heracles while drinking.

Chapter 72: Sharing a Room with Joan of Arc (4.2k)

At midnight, with the transaction concluded, Samael bid farewell to his new partner and searched for a hotel in the town, intending to stay the night nearby.

Staying here serves two purposes: firstly, to guide the evacuation of unrelated personnel, and secondly, because I sensed what appeared to be the movement of the Holy Grail gathering.

But perhaps because it was so late, Samael wandered around for a while before finally finding the only inn in town with its lights on.

However, as he pushed open the half-closed door and entered the lobby, the familiar figure at the counter, preparing to check in, made Gu She pause slightly.

"Letitia?"

"It's you!"

The girl with braided hair carrying a backpack turned around, their eyes met, and they couldn't help but be taken aback.

Indeed, the person before him was Joan of Arc, but since they were traveling, Samael naturally chose to address her by her current name to avoid any unexpected trouble.

The middle-aged woman, who had been dozing off behind the counter, perked up at the noise and scrutinized the two handsome young men and beautiful young women who had come to check in.

"Do you know?"

"Well, I guess... I guess so."

Joan of Arc coughed slightly, turned her head to the side, and a faint blush rose on her cheeks, as if she were thinking of something.

Upon seeing this, the middle-aged woman's eyes flickered thoughtfully. She rested her chin on her hand and casually tossed a room key onto the counter.

"Sorry, we only have one double room left. How about you make do with this room tonight?"

"Fine, first come, first served. Why don't you stay here? I'll just find somewhere outside to squat for the night."

Samael yawned, waved his hand dismissively, and then turned around as if to leave the inn, but walked very slowly.

Joan of Arc turned to look at the thick darkness and damp, cold fog outside the door, her brow furrowed slightly, and she tightened her grip on her handbag. With a determined heart, she simply pulled Samael back.

"It's only for one night anyway, let's go together."

The saintess's moral character and conduct had already chosen the answer for her. After all, she couldn't leave outsiders homeless because of her own reasons, could she?

Samael pointed to himself, then to Joan of Arc, who looked somewhat conflicted, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"Aren't you forcing me?"

However, Joan of Arc, having chosen the answer, calmed down, glanced up at the demon who routinely mocked her, and responded indifferently.

"Anyway, it's not like we're roommates for the first time."

Okay, it really is...

They spent a long time together in prisons in Rouen and England, not only as roommates but also as fellow inmates—a truly prison-like experience.

Seeing that he couldn't get through to his former cellmate, whose mentality was as steady as a rock, Samuel lost a lot of fun. He shrugged and went over to pick up the room key from the counter.

"Sincerely, 120 lei."

"So expensive!"

Upon hearing the outrageous price, Joan of Arc was taken aback and instinctively reached for her empty purse, then hesitated.

She had lived here for a while, and this price was outrageous compared to the town's cost of living and normal prices; it was at least twice as expensive.

"Whether you stay or not is up to you; there's only one room left."

The proprietress remained expressionless and spoke irritably, but her gaze swept past the blonde girl who looked like a schoolgirl and looked down at a handsome, well-dressed black-haired man with disdain.

"I'll go out."

Faced with those clearly disdainful looks directed at him as a scumbag and a gigolo, Samael gave in and quickly went to pay the bill.

Joan of Arc opened her mouth, but ultimately did not refuse.

Because of her self-funded travel and her unpaid job as a student, she has always lived a very frugal life.

When you're traveling, prioritize urgent matters.

After filling out the registration form, the two went upstairs one after the other, unlocked the door, and entered the bedroom.

It must be said that although the price is outrageous, the configuration is actually quite good.

The overall warm-toned European-style furnishings exude a cozy atmosphere, and the bedding has just been changed and washed, with a refreshing lavender scent that soothes the soul.

Joan of Arc put down her handbag, rubbed her sore neck and shoulders, looked around, her gaze falling on the bathroom stall in the corner. She turned to look behind her, but hesitated to speak.

Samael yawned, got up seemingly casually, and asked a question offhand.

"I'm a little thirsty. I'll go downstairs and buy a drink. What would you like to drink? It's on me."

"Juice is fine, thank you."

As the door closed and the footsteps in the corridor faded into the distance, Joan of Arc breathed a slight sigh of relief. She unbuttoned her clothes, took off her sweat- and mud-stained garments, stepped barefoot into the bathroom, turned on the tap, and enjoyed the cool and pleasant sensation of the water washing over her skin.

Now, she really seems like a 16-19 year old girl...

At the top of the stairs, Samael, who had heard the faint sound of water with his extraordinary hearing, shook his head and muttered to himself before turning and walking toward the vending machine at the shop entrance downstairs.

"Boss, I need a place to stay!"

Just as the ancient snake came downstairs, two travelers carrying backpacks entered, looking travel-worn.

The middle-aged woman casually asked, "One night, right? Twin room or single room?"

Didn't they say there were no rooms available?

Samael, who was standing at the corner of the stairs, was taken aback when he heard this, but then he came to his senses.

I knew it! The town is being evacuated, so how could the houses be fully occupied?

"How many?"

"Single room 50, twin room 60."

The middle-aged woman readily quoted a price, took a key card from her drawer, and tossed it to the customer.

Just as Samael was pondering, the price quoted at the counter caused his blood pressure to spike, veins to bulge on his forehead, and his face to turn as black as the bottom of a pot.

A single room costs 50, but they charged us 120? This merchant is outrageous!

Realizing he had been slaughtered, the Demon King watched the two backpackers passing by, his clenched teeth grinding together. He stormed downstairs, ready to demand an explanation.

Or, give her an explanation!

However, just as the ancient snake was walking down the stairs, another young couple entered the store.

The middle-aged woman in front of the counter immediately put on a helpless and troubled expression.

"Oh, I'm sorry, there's only one double room left. Why don't you make do with this tonight? When you're traveling, don't be picky."

"How many?"

"120 lei."

The young man glanced at his pretty female companion with a slightly flushed face, exchanged a glance with the older woman, and decisively took out his money without saying a word.

Damn, so that's how they calculate the charges...

At the same time, Samael, suddenly realizing his mistake, stopped his accusations.

120 a night doesn't seem like such a bad deal...

When the ancient snake looked up at the middle-aged woman in front of the counter again, he suddenly felt that the woman was incredibly kind and gentle.

This woman—no, this bodhisattva—has performed immeasurable good deeds…

Lost in thought, Samael silently walked around the counter, bought two cans of drinks from the vending machine, and quietly turned and went upstairs.

Fifteen minutes later, as the sound of water in the room stopped, the ancient snake took the opportunity to knock on the door.

Joan of Arc, hastily putting on a cardigan, her wet blonde hair disheveled, opened the door and led Samael into the room.

Here, yours.

Samael casually tossed a can of juice to Joan of Arc, then sat down at the table, slowly sipping his juice while flipping through a thriller novel.

After drying her hair and tidying up her belongings, Joan of Arc glanced at the blood-red book cover and the alluring female figure bathing in blood in the bathtub. She frowned slightly and subconsciously read out the book title.

"The Bloody Lady of Chachides?"

"Elizabeth Bathory, the Blood Countess, a controversial and legendary figure in history..."

Samael waved the book in his hand and casually added...

"This is a novel based on her, which incorporates some historical facts as well as folk tales circulating in Romania and Hungary. I borrowed the novel from the bookshelf downstairs. It's a very popular book in Romania recently."

As she spoke, the knowledge and memories bestowed upon Joan of Arc by the Holy Grail system flooded her mind.

"The prototypes of vampires in Romania and Hungary?"

"The prototype?"

The ancient snake took a sip of soda, skimmed through the content, and shook its head with a sneer.

"The so-called history is much like this countess, like a little girl who can be dressed up however one pleases, full of unwarranted embellishments."

Elizabeth Bathory, from the famous Bathory family, a renowned family that defended Hungary from Turkish invasion, was also a notorious figure in history for murder.

She was the most prolific female serial killer. She believed human blood could keep her young, and she had the privilege of indulging her superstitions. It is believed that approximately 650 people were murdered by this Countess Elizabeth, whose blood she drank or used for bathing. Because of these bloody acts, she was known as the "Bloody Countess" and the "Bloody Lady of Çachdis." In later fictional accounts, she became the vampire Camilla.

Legend has it that she liked to bathe in the blood of her victims in order to maintain her beauty or youth.

Legend has it that she enjoyed murdering young girls in the castle's basement and torturing them for pleasure.

Legend has it that her uncle Gabriel was a cultist who fought armed enemies and shouted in a language no one could understand; her aunt Clara was a lesbian who taught Elizabeth how to torture servants; and her brother Stefan was a pervert.

However, the story of being bathed in blood first appeared in László Tulloch's "Miserable History" in 1729, in an artwork about Elizabeth Bathory.

Elizabeth didn't actually have an uncle named Gabriel; she only had a distant nephew named Gabriel Bathory (1589-1613), who was also her brother's adopted son. When Elizabeth was ten years old, her aunt Clara was already nearing sixty and could no longer teach her anything. Elizabeth's brother hadn't even had any children of his own, and had to adopt a son from a relative.

Finally, there is a lack of sufficient evidence to support the rumors that she tortured and killed servants and young girls.

Elizabeth had four close servants: a doorman, an old widow, an elderly friend, and an elderly washerwoman. They were all accused of being the masterminds and accomplices in the abuse of the young girl.

According to the trial documents, the presiding judge found a dead girl, a dying girl, an injured woman, and a group of detainees in Elizabeth's home, and Elizabeth was placed under house arrest.

However, none of these witnesses were victims or their families.

Furthermore, according to others, these people were not in the castle. There are numerous indications of false evidence, fake news, witness intimidation, manipulation of terrorist news, and their close temporal and material connection to the actions against the Bathory family.

Coincidentally, as early as December 10th, Elizabeth's nephew captured Sibiu, and the following year he conquered Wallachia. He then simultaneously fought against the Ottoman Empire and the Habsburg dynasty, ultimately suffering defeat. This nephew, too, was stigmatized after his death.

In fact, tracing back to the source, it verifies Joachim Peiper's famous saying: "History is written by the victors, but the truth is known only to those who lived through it."

The fact that the bloodthirsty countess fell to such a state is most likely related to the Bathory family's failed political struggle.

"Such slander should never exist!"

Joan of Arc was inexplicably filled with righteous indignation, and clenched her fists tightly.

"Slander? Perhaps, but who knows the real answer? Besides, what can you do? Clear their names?"